FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE CAUCASUS

A number of Olympic complexes and other sports facilities have been built in Baku and the country's regions in recent years.  These facilities meet the best international standards and at the same time play an important role in the development of the regions, making them attractive for sports tourism.

The Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan (AFFA), which is not satisfied with the current state of the country's football infrastructure, is working on its improvement.  The government too is focusing on football.  In particular, the construction of the region's largest Olympic stadium is to begin in Baku soon.  It will be the largest football stadium in the South Caucasus.  It will be built in the town of Boyuk Sor with funding from the State Oil Company.  Construction is to be completed in 2015. The exact cost of construction is still not clear. A statement by the Turkish company TOCA that the project is worth about US$1 billion was refuted soon afterwards.  The company's official web site reads that, because several contractors will work on the project simultaneously, statements about the cost cannot be taken seriously.  The only thing known for certain is that the new facility will be truly grand.

The construction of the stadium will promote a growth in interest in football and give impetus to the development of the Olympic theme.  With special interest and attention on the Olympic movement, the absence of an Olympic stadium in the country was a clear flaw.  The project's implementation is welcome, if only from this angle.  It will be the most modern sports facility, equipped with cutting-edge technology.

The new stadium will be an extra argument in favour of Azerbaijan if a decision is taken to host the Olympic Games.  However, the plans to build an Olympic stadium are not directly linked to a plan to nominate Baku as a candidate city for the 2020 summer Olympic Games.  National Olympic Committee Vice President Cingiz Husayinov said that Azerbaijan has long since needed a stadium meeting international standards.  "Stadiums are built because football is developing in Azerbaijan, and the number of teams is increasing.  At present, important games are played at the central arena of the Tofiq Bahramov Republic Stadium.  The stadium is situated in the centre of Baku, which limits its capacity for expansion.  That is why we are pleased with the decision to build a new stadium.  I am certain that we must keep building new sports facilities regardless of whether the Olympic games are held in Baku", said Husayinzada.

He also said that the stadium will meet all modern requirements.  "From what I know, all the latest technology will be used.  There will be slide-out grandstands, and the stadium will be able to host not only football events, but competitions in other disciplines, for example track and field.  Additional pitches will be built, too.  There will be a lot of accompanying work:  oil ponds in Boyuk Sor will be drained, new roads will be built and so on.  In short, a new infrastructure will be built", said the National Olympic Committee vice president.

Youth and Sports Minister Azad Rahimov, for his part, touched on the issue of the expense to be borne.  "The new stadium construction project will be launched very soon.  One thing is known for certain:  the stadium will accommodate 65,000 spectators.  In the initial design, it looked like the Stade de France in Paris.  That project was to cost AZN 300 million. The new stadium will cost less. The most important point is that the stadium will admit 65,000 fans and meet all the latest international standards.  The pitch will be encircled by a race track which will be convertible into grandstands if necessary.  This is a grand project which I hope will be implemented very well", the minister said.

Although the final version of the design has not been approved yet, it is known that the complex will also include a hotel, shopping facilities and a park.  The area around the facility will hold the appropriate infrastructure.  An Olympic village of sorts will be built here with all amenities for fans.

In recent years, modern sports facilities have been built in Turkey and Ukraine.  Neighbouring Russia, too, will start building large stadiums soon:  it is to host the 2018 World Football Cup.  Azerbaijani fans and sportsmen impatiently await the completion of the grand Olympic stadium which will give an impetus to the development of sports in the country.  It will make it possible to host the world's best teams in different disciplines.

So let us wait for 2015, when our dreams are to come true.